NHS Tayside is set to provide 42 extra beds in the region’s hospitals in a bid to cope with a surge in admissions this winter.
Ninewells Hospital alone will have 34 additional beds available between this month and March.
Up to 24 of these beds will be located on Ward 16.
A further four beds will be available for patients in Ward 33, where people who have suffered a stroke are treated.
The remaining six beds will be located at the hospital’s Ward 36.
Perth Royal Infirmary will also benefit from an increase in available beds throughout the same period.
Eight extra beds will be in place at Ward 8 in the hospital.
The provision, part of the NHS Tayside winter plan for 2015-16, has already been given a green light by NHS bosses.
Dr Alan Cook, NHS Tayside medical director for the Operational Unit, said: “Plans are being put in place to provide extra capacity and services for the coming winter period.
“Our winter plan aims to make best use of all available resources to provide safe, effective and person-centred care for all of our patients.
“NHS Tayside’s plan for the winter period includes a range of measures to manage the anticipated increase in patient demand over this time.
“These include enhanced community support with teams of clinical staff caring for people in their home settings to avoid hospital admission, joint plans with local authorities to ensure patient discharge from hospital is not delayed. We aim to support our frailest older people who come into hospital through the provision of acute medical and multi-disciplinary care.
“There will also be access to additional physiotherapy, occupational therapy, diagnostic testing and pharmacy support for patients over the winter.
“The winter period can be challenging due to the high volume of patients requiring care and it is important to remember that everyone has a role to play to help us reduce winter pressures.”
Dr Cook has also called on the public to avoid hospital when they are suffering from certain infectious diseases.
He added: “We would encourage anyone suffering from Norovirus, more commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, to avoid visiting hospitals for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Winter levels of activity can be very variable and a recent report highlighted that unexpected levels of activity can affect a board’s ability to deliver an effective service across the whole system despite taking measures to help during winter periods.
“Our planning aims to help us to respond flexibly to fluctuations in demand and use our hospitals in the most effective way.
“The board aim to increase the healthcare provider’s capacity to manage increased patient demand between November and March.”